Frozen Fruit Containers and Methods

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a container may include a lid portion and a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure. The container may further include a plurality of separator elements coupled to one of the lid portion and the base portion. The plurality of separator elements may be configured separate a piece of fruit into a plurality of portions when the lid portion is closed over the base portion. Additionally, the plurality of separator elements may be configured to isolate the portions from one another during a freezing operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a non-provisional application of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/374,649 filed on Aug. 12, 2016 and entitled “Frozen Fruit Containers and Methods”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to fruit containers, and more particularly to containers configured to store divided fruit portions.

BACKGROUND

Fruit smoothies and frozen drink items are commonly made using fruit items and ice blended together. In many households, frozen fruit items, such as frozen berries, may be used in lieu of ice. However, many household blenders may work better with smaller portions of fruit.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a container is disclosed that may include one or more separator elements configured to cut a fruit item, such as a banana, into a plurality of portions and to keep the portions separated during freezing. Once frozen, the frozen portions may be removed from the container and stored in a freezer bag or another container.

In some embodiments, a container may include first and second clamshell portions. The first and second clamshell portions may include corresponding hinges configured to engage one another to form the container and to define an enclosure configured to receive a fruit item. Further, at least one of the first and second clamshell portions may include a releasable clasp configured to engage a corresponding feature of the other portion to secure the container in a closed state. One or more separator elements may be positioned within the enclosure to separate the fruit item into pieces.

In other embodiments, a container may include a lid portion, a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure, and a plurality of separator elements configured to fit within the enclosure. The plurality of separator elements, the lid portion, and the base portion may be configured to cooperate to isolate the portions from one another during a freezing operation.

In still other embodiments, a hinged container may define an enclosure sized to receive a fruit item. A separator element may be positioned within the enclosure. The separator elements may include a plurality of thin walls configured to engage a slot within the enclosure and to divide the enclosure into a plurality of areas, each separated from a next area by at least one of the thin walls.

In some embodiments, a container may include a lid portion and a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure. The container may further include a plurality of separator elements coupled to one of the lid portion and the base portion. The plurality of separator elements may be configured separate a piece of fruit into a plurality of portions when the lid portion is closed over the base portion. Additionally, the plurality of separator elements may be configured to isolate the portions from one another during a freezing operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fruit container including a plurality of separators, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the fruit container of FIG. 1, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a top cross-sectional view of a portion of a fruit container including a plurality of separators, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A depicts a side perspective view of a fruit container including a plurality of separators coupled to a lid portion, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of the fruit container of FIG. 3A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A depicts a top view of a fruit container including a plurality of separators positioned in a storage portion of the container and including hinge and attachment features along the sides, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of a fruit container including hinge and attachment portions on the edges, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts a partial perspective view and partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a fruit container including separators in both top and bottom portions, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6A depicts a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a fruit container including slots sized to receive a plurality of separators.

FIG. 6B depicts a bottom view of a separator element assembly including a plurality of separator elements and a connecting arm, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6C depicts a front perspective view of the separator element assembly of FIG. 6B, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a frozen fruit container, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a method of freezing fruit, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the following discussion, the same reference numbers are used in the various embodiments to indicate the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a container configured to store fruit portions for freezing is described below. In an embodiment, the container may include a lid portion, which may be configured to mate with a storage portion to define an enclosure sized to receive a fruit item, such as a banana. A plurality of separator elements may be disposed within the enclosure to separate the fruit item into portions. By dividing the fruit item into portions, the portions may be individually frozen to produce frozen fruit portions.

In an example involving bananas, the separator elements may maintain the banana portions spaced apart from one another so that the pieces do not freeze together. Additionally, by cutting the fruit item into smaller pieces before freezing, small portions may be selected for use, making it easy to make personal-sized smoothies or other specialty drinks and treats. An example of a fruit container that facilitates freezing of fruit portions is described below with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fruit container 100 including a plurality of separators 124, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the fruit container 100 may be shaped like a banana and may be configured to store banana portions during and after freezing. The fruit container 100 may include a first portion 102 and a second portion 104, which may be coupled by a hinge element 106. The first portion 102 may include a first cavity 120 and the second portion 104 may include a second cavity 122. The first and second portions 102 and 104 may be configured to close to form an enclosure. In some embodiments, the first portion 102 may be a lid and the second portion 104 may be a base, or vice versa. Further, the first portion 102 may include latch elements 108, 112, and 116 configured to engage corresponding elements 110, 114, and 118, respectively, of the second portion 104. In some embodiments, the container 100 may include only one of the latch elements 108, 112, and 116 and only one of the corresponding elements 110, 114, and 118.

In certain embodiments, the enclosure may include a plurality of separator elements 124, which divide the enclosure into a plurality of areas. The separator elements 124 may be formed from stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, another material, or any combination thereof. In a particular example, the separator elements 124 may be formed from anti-microbial plastic configured to resist bacterial contamination. The separator elements 124 may be configured to separate fruit portions from one another during freezing. In some embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be fixed within an interior portion of the first portion 102, as shown. In other embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be fixed within the second portion. In still other embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be coupled together by a crossbar or arm to form a separator element assembly, which may be inserted into the cavity of one of the first portion 102 and the second portion 104.

In still other embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be independent from one another and may be selectively inserted into slots or guides within the side walls, base, or both, of the container 100 to secure the separator elements 124. In some embodiments the user may selectively insert separator elements 124 to divide the enclosure into selected portion sizes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of separator elements 124 may be fixed to the interior surface of the first portion 102 (or alternatively the second portion). In some examples, the interior surface of the first portion 102 (or alternatively the second portion) may include a corresponding plurality of channels, each of which is configured to receive an edge portion of one of the plurality of separator elements 124. Other embodiments are also possible.

In some embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be tapered to provide a cutting feature. In some embodiments, the edge of the separator elements 124 may form a cutting blade configured to cut fruit into pieces. Other embodiments are also possible.

In some embodiments, the first portion 102 and the second portion 104 may be formed from a first material, while the plurality of separator elements 124 may be formed from a second material. In a particular example, the first and second portions 102 and 104 may be formed from plastic material, while the separator elements 124 may be formed from a metal or from a second plastic material that has different material properties as compared to the material used for the first and second portions 102 and 104. Other embodiments are also possible.

In a particular example, a user may remove the peel from a banana and may insert the fruit into the second portion 104. The user may then close the container 100 by moving the first portion 102 toward the second portion 104, causing the plurality of separator elements 124 to cut the banana into a plurality of portions. The user may then secure the container 100 in a closed position, maintaining separation of the portions of the banana using the separator elements 124. The container 100 may then be placed in a freezer.

In another particular example, a user may remove the container 100 from a freezer and may open the container 100 by releasing one or more of the latch elements 108, 112, and 116. The user may then selectively remove one or more of the portions for use, such as for adding the selected portions to a blender. The user may then close the container 100 and return the container 100 to the freezer.

It should be appreciated that the container 100 provides a number of advantages over conventional fruit storage. In an example, by providing separator elements 124 to maintain separation of the fruit portions, the fruit portions may be individually frozen for subsequent use. If the separator elements 124 were omitted, the fruit portions may freeze into a single frozen block. Further, in some embodiments, the separator elements 124 may be sufficiently rigid and thin to enable a user to cut the fruit using the separator elements 124, reducing the number of steps to produce the fruit portions. Finally, by providing latch elements 108, 112, and 116, the fruit portions may be cut, separated, and secured using the container 100. Other advantages and benefits may also be apparent to one of skill in the art.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view 200 of the fruit container 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The view 200 depicts the first portion 102 and the second portion 104 coupled by a hinge element 106, which may be formed by a piece of plastic having a thickness that is less than that of the first and second portions 102 and 104. Further, the view 200 depicts the latch element 116 and a corresponding element 118, which may be configured to engage one another to maintain the first portion 102 against the second portion 104 to form the enclosure. In this example, the latch element 116 may include a post 202 configured to fit with a receptacle 204 of the corresponding element 118 to secure the latch element 116 to the corresponding element 118. Other embodiments are also possible.

In the illustrated example, a separator element 124 has a substantially circular shape and is sized to fit within the cavity 120. A first half of the separator element 124 fits within the cavity 120 and a remaining half of the separator element 124 fits within the cavity 122. In an alternative embodiment, the separator element 124 may be formed from two semi-circular shapes, where one of the half circles fits within the cavity 120 and the other fits within the cavity 122.

FIG. 2B is a top cross-sectional view 220 of a portion of a fruit container 100 including a plurality of separators 124, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the first portion 102 includes recesses 222 sized to receive and secure the separator elements 124 within the cavity 120. The recesses 222 may also be configured to maintain spacing between the separator elements 124. In some embodiments, the recesses 222 may be along a bottom portion and side portions of the first portion 102. Other embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 3A depicts a side perspective view of a fruit container 300 including a plurality of separators 308 coupled to a lid portion 302, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The fruit container 300 may include the lid 302 sized to fit over a base 304, which may define an enclosure 306 configured to receive fruit. A top edge 310 of the base 304 may engage a seal of the lid 302 to seal the fruit within the enclosure 306.

In certain embodiments, the separator elements 308 may be formed from thin, rigid material, such as plastic and may be configured to cut the fruit into portions as the lid 302 is pushed down onto the base 304. In some embodiments, the separator elements 308 may be formed from stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, another material, or any combination thereof. In a particular example, the separator elements 124 may be formed from anti-microbial plastic configured to resist bacterial contamination.

FIG. 3B illustrates a top view 320 of the fruit container 300 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The underside of the lid 302 includes a seal and edge receiving portion 324 configured to engage the edges 310 of the base 304. Further, within the enclosure 306, channels or slots 322 may be formed in a bottom portion of the base 304 to receive the separator elements 308. In some embodiments, channels or slots may be formed along the interior surfaces of the sides of the base 304 to guide the separator elements 308. Other embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 4A depicts a top view of a fruit container 400 including a plurality of separator elements 408 positioned in a storage portion of the container and including hinge and attachment features along the sides, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The fruit container 400 may include a lid 402 including a plurality of separator elements 408. The lid 402 may include hinge elements 414 and a latch element 418 on opposing sides. Further, the lid 402 may include a receptacle and seal (not shown) configured to receive a top edge 410 of a base portion 404.

The fruit container 400 may further include the base portion 404 defining an enclosure 406 configured to store fruit portions. The base 404 may include corresponding hinge elements 412 configured to engage the hinge elements 414 to form a pivoting hinge. The base portion 404 may further include a latch element 416 configured to engage the latch element 418 to secure the container 400 in a closed position.

In this example, the separator elements 408 are coupled to the lid 402. In other embodiments, the separator elements 408 may be positioned within the base portion. In either embodiment, a piece of fruit may be placed in the base portion 404 and the lid 402 may be closed to cut the fruit into pieces or portions. The separator elements 408 may keep the pieces separate to facilitate freezing and storage. Other embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of a fruit container 420 including hinge and attachment portions on the edges, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The fruit container 420 may include all of the elements of the fruit container 400 of FIG. 4A, except that the hinge portions are positioned on the ends rather than the sides of the lid 402 and the base 404.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 4B, the lid 402 includes a latch element 418 on a first end and hinge elements 414 on an opposite end. The base 404 has a corresponding latch element 416 and a corresponding hinge element 412 on opposing ends.

FIG. 5 depicts a partial perspective view and partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a fruit container 500 including separators in both top and bottom portions, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The fruit container 500 may include a first portion 502 and a second portion 504 joined by a hinge element 506. The first portion 502 defines a first cavity 512 and the second portion 504 defines a second cavity 514 such that when the first portion 502 and the second portion 504 are fit together, their respective cavities 512 and 514 form an open area sized to receive a piece of fruit.

In this example, the first portion 502 may include a plurality of separator elements 508, and the second portion 504 may include a plurality of separator elements 510. The separator elements 508 and 510 may contact one another when the container 500 is closed. Thus, the separator elements 508 and 510 may cooperate to cut a piece of fruit into portions and to keep the portions separate. Other embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 6A depicts a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a fruit container 600 including slots (or channels) 608 sized to receive a plurality of separators. The fruit container 600 includes side walls 602 and a bottom wall 604 that are coupled together to define a container having an enclosure 606. The slots or channels 608 may be formed in the bottom wall 604. In some embodiments, corresponding slots or channels may be formed in side walls to further secure the separator elements. Other embodiments are also possible.

FIG. 6B depicts a bottom view of a separator element assembly 620 including a plurality of separator elements 622 and a connecting arm 624, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the connecting arm 624 may couple the separator elements 622 and maintain their spacing. In this example, the separator elements 622 may be removable, such as after the fruit portions are frozen so that it may be reused within another container.

FIG. 6C depicts a front perspective view 630 of the separator element assembly 620 of FIG. 6B, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the connecting arm 624 may be coupled to each of a plurality of separator elements 622 to maintain a consistent spacing and alignment. Other embodiments are also possible.

It should be appreciated that, though the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 3A-4B and 6A-6C depicted rectangular implementations and rectangular separator elements, other shapes of the interior cavity of the container and of the separator elements are also possible, including elliptical shapes, circular shapes, semi-circular shapes, rhomboidal shapes, or other shapes. In some embodiments, the container may be formed in a shape corresponding to the type of fruit to be stored, and the separator elements may be arranged according to a desired portion shape and size. In some embodiments, depending on the type of fruit to be stored, the separator elements may be formed from different materials to facilitate cutting and storage. Other embodiments are also possible.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to cut, separate and store multiple pieces of fruit at one time and store them in a single container. Such devices may be used in a family setting or in a commercial setting. The size of the container and the size of the separator array may vary depending on the implementation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a frozen fruit container 700, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The fruit container 700 includes a base portion 702 and a lid portion 704, which may be coupled by one or more hinge elements. An array of separator elements 706 may be disposed within the base portion 702.

In certain embodiments, a user may peel a plurality of bananas and may arrange the peeled bananas on the array of separator elements 706. The user may then close the lid 704, applying a pressing force on the peeled bananas, causing the separator elements 706 to cut the bananas into portions and to keep the portions separate. The container 700 may then be placed in a freezer to freeze each of the fruit portions.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a method 800 of freezing fruit, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. At 802, the method 800 may include inserting a food item into a container defining an enclosure. The food item may be a piece of fruit, such as a banana. The container may be a rectangular container, a rounded container, a curved container, or a fruit-shaped container (shaped like the fruit to be stored).

At 804, the method 800 may include pressing a separator element assembly through the food item and into the enclosure to cut the food item into two or more pieces. In some embodiments, the separator element assembly may be part of a lid or may be distributed between a lid and a base portion, and the pressing may be performed by closing the container. In still other embodiments, the separator element may be a stand-alone component that may be inserted. In other embodiments, the separator element assembly may be positioned within the enclosure such that the fruit is set on top of the separator element assembly, in which case pressing may include closing a lid onto the fruit to press the fruit onto the assembly.

At 806, the method 800 may include sealing the cut food item into the container. Sealing may be performed by closing a lid of the container. In some embodiments, the user may cause a first latch element to engage a corresponding feature to close the container. Other embodiments are also possible.

At 808, the method 800 may include freezing the cut food item within the container. In some embodiments, the separator element assembly may maintain separation between the cut food portions during the freezing operation.

It should be appreciated that the method 800 is one possible example, and that steps described in the method 800 may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an example, blocks 804 and 806 may be combined such that sealing the food item into the container also causes the separator elements to cut the food item. In some embodiments, the separator element may be within a base portion, attached to a lid portion, or both. In some embodiments, closing the container both seals the food item within the container and presses the separator elements into (and through) the food item.

Further, other steps may be added, depending on the implementation, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In an example, before inserting the food item, at 802, the method 800 may include inserting one or more separator elements into a portion of a container. In some examples, the user may selectively insert separator elements to provide a selectable portion size. In a particular example, the separator elements may be individually inserted into selected channels or slots within the enclosure. Other embodiments are also possible.

In conjunction with the apparatus and methods described above with respect to FIGS. 1-8, a fruit container is disclosed that includes a base portion and a lid portion. The fruit container further includes a plurality of separator elements, which may be coupled to one or both of the base portion and the lid portion to separate a fruit item into portions and to keep the portions separate during freezing. In some embodiments, the separator elements may be individually inserted into one of the lid portion and the base portion. In other embodiments, the separator elements may be fixed to at least one of the lid portion and the base portion. Other embodiments are also contemplated.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a lid portion; a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure; and a plurality of separator elements coupled to one of the lid portion and the base portion, the plurality of separator elements configured separate a piece of fruit into a plurality of portions when the lid portion is closed over the base portion, the plurality of separator elements configured to isolate the portions from one another during a freezing operation.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid portion and the base portion have a shape that correspond to a shape of a piece of fruit.
 3. The container of claim 1, further comprising a hinge configured to couple the lid portion to the base portion.
 4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels formed in at least one of a side wall and a bottom of an interior of the base portion, each of the plurality of channels sized to receive one of the plurality of separator elements.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of separator elements is tapered to form a cutting edge.
 6. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a latch formed on at least one of the lid portion and the base portion; and a corresponding mechanism formed on the other of the lid and the base portion; wherein the latch and the corresponding mechanism cooperate to secure the lid portion to the base portion.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the lid portion are formed from a first material and the plurality of separator elements are formed from a second material.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid portion, the base portion, and the plurality of separator elements are formed from a material of substantially similar composition.
 9. A container comprising: a lid portion; a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure; and a plurality of separator elements configured to fit within the enclosure, the plurality of separator elements, the lid portion, and the base portion configured to cooperate to isolate the portions from one another during a freezing operation.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein the lid portion and the base portion have shapes that correspond to a shape of a piece of fruit.
 11. The container of claim 9, further comprising a hinge configured to couple the lid portion to the base portion.
 12. The container of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of channels formed in at least one of a side wall and a bottom of an interior of the base portion, each of the plurality of channels sized to receive at least one of the plurality of separator elements.
 13. The container of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of separator elements is tapered to form a cutting edge.
 14. The container of claim 9, further comprising: a latch formed on at least one of the lid portion and the base portion; and a corresponding mechanism formed on the other of the lid and the base portion; wherein the latch and the corresponding mechanism cooperate to secure the lid portion to the base portion.
 15. The container of claim 9, wherein the base portion and the lid portion are formed from a first material and the plurality of separator elements are formed from a second material.
 16. The container of claim 9, wherein the lid portion, the base portion, and the plurality of separator elements are formed from a material of substantially similar composition.
 17. A container comprising: a lid portion; a base portion configured to cooperate with the lid portion to form an enclosure; and a plurality of separator elements configured to fit within the enclosure, the plurality of separator elements defining a plurality of areas sized to receive a portion of an item to be frozen, the plurality of separator elements, the lid portion, and the base portion configured to cooperate to isolate each portion from other portions during a freezing operation.
 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the lid portion and the base portion have shapes that correspond to a shape of a piece of fruit.
 19. The container of claim 17, further comprising a hinge configured to couple the lid portion to the base portion.
 20. The container of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of separator elements is tapered to form a cutting edge. 